NAF News

PARTNERS, NAF AND NEVADA AGRICULTURE

Jill Baker, a young woman from Fallon, was provided a 1990 Nevada Agricultural Foundation (NAF) grant of $1,260 to help finance a trip to Norway. She was going there as part of an agricultural youth exchange program. The year before NAF antied up $500 to help Lincoln County 4-H'rs attend Nevada State 4-H camp at Lake Tahoe and $700 to help repair a cooking trailer for the Youth Range Camp at Big Creek south of Austin. April of 1988 NAF was a co-sponsor of an "Agriculture In Mining Workshop" held in Winnemucca and later that same year co-sponsored a "Grass Seed" seminar on the UNR campus. Both related to federal legislation on mine site rehabilitation. Agricultural knowledge, skills and products all were required to accomplish reclamation of these areas. Back in 1981 NAF inaugurated the Arvin Boerlin awards that went each year to the outstanding teacher, researcher, and Cooperative Extension educator in the UNR College of Agriculture. Awards at first were $250 to each but later were increased. This program lasted into the mid-1990's.

These are but a few examples of how NAF, now in its 30th year, has used its dollars to benefit Nevada food producers. Through the years emphasis has changed from time to time and funds have been funneled to current and major issues of the period. For instance, management of the Nation's public lands in the early and mid-1990's was of concern due to passage of environmental laws and various litigations. Affected were range users such as the livestock industry, mining, logging, off-roading, and in some cases, hunting and fishing. NAF in 1991 and again in 1995 provided grants of $10,000 in each case to legal entities for research into the area of public land law thus providing more historical data and clarity to the whole body of such law. The research went back as far as the Louisianna Purchase, Treaties with Mexico, Spanish Land Grants and so forth. What might this country have been committed to under these international or other agreements that may still be applicable like existance of private property rights, and what territorial regulations as part of congressional action might apply? Other examples of how NAF has contributed in the cause of agriculture will be mentioned further on.

The prime objective, however, of NAF has never changed since it was formed in 1976 - that is to motivate and encourage young Nevada high school graduates to pursue a higher education in agriculture or a closely associated field. NAF felt then and still does that the Nation needs bright young people to provide input and leadership in growing food to feed us all. The greatest part, 60%, of NAF expenditures has been for this purpose, or about 400 Educational Awards have gone to some 240 Nevada youth. Since NAF began it has provided over one million dollars in Educational Awards (scholarships) and other grants going to 4-H, FFA, and for agricultural research. The bulk of this amount or $620,165 has been gifted year 2000 to 2006.

The idea back when NAF started was to create an "independent foundation" which could accept gifts of property, cash, or other donations made to the UNR Ag. College or for other closely associated purposes. At the time the College was negotiating for a rather large gift of ranch property but the University's Foundation was limited then to owning only Washoe County property and the ranch in question was in Elko County. Thus, alumni of the UNR Ag. College, encouraged by Dr. Dale W. Bohmont then the College's Dean, created NAF. The intention was to build a fund through such gifts from which the interest and dividends could be used for Educational Awards or scholarships and for other purposes. Once efforts were underway the Foundation accepted memorial bequests, cash, property, cattle, mining claims and similar gifts. NAF's assets by the early 1980's had grown to a degree that grants could be made. In 1981, the Foundation awarded $31,000 in grants but was unable to duplicate that amount consistently averaging over $16,000 annually (years 1976 to 1999,) again with Educational Awards accounting for over 60% of it.

There were two major occurrences in the 30 years of NAF that greatly benefitted the organization. We will consider the second of these first. NAF's ability to provide awards and grants was greatly enhanced in 1999 when William Denevi who owned two ranches in the Sparks area left $2.3 million dollars to the Foundation. Flushed with the magnitude of Denevi's generous gift, NAF in year 2000 granted the highest total amount in its history, significantly higher than ever before or since, $173,000. Included in the Educational Awards were some premier four year scholarships of $4,000 per year for the four years or $16,000. Once such awards are given, NAF is committed to meeting its obligation as long as the student meets requirements. This is true even though the market may go sour. A more conservative approach has been a result though average awards and grants, 2000 to 2006, have amounted to $88,600. Recently, too, Bohmont and others have made significant gifts to NAF.

NAF has made only one basic and important change in its administrative format since it began. In 1993, the Foundation decided to alter its rules and requirements in the Educational Awards area. It was a move they were very reluctant to make. Originally, in order to qualify for a NAF Educational Award, applicants had to be a Nevada High School graduate and to enroll in the College Of Agriculture, University Of Nevada, Reno. The College's Administration after Bohmont left strengthened some curriculums and down sized others. Agricultural Economics was expanded as was Pre-Veterinary Medicine, for example, while Plant Science was diminished. Thus a student wishing to seek a degree in Agronomy, Plant Genetics or Entomology probably could not fulfill major graduation requirements at UNR. NAF voted then to allow Educational Award recipients to attend a college or university of their choice where they felt they could get the best education. Most recipients or nearly 65%, even after the rules changes, still have chosen UNR, especially since the College Of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) has recently broadened its curriculums.

Regarding its Educational Award Recipients over the years, NAF has continually been gratified by their academic achievements at major colleges and universities. They may have come from a rural Nevada high school graduating with a 3.8 GPA in a class of 12 but more often than not continue the 3.8 or better at the university they attend. What they may lack in variety of subjects in their high schools they seem to make up in a good work ethic and discipline.

Have private ranch properties contributed in some degree to enhancing wildlife welfare? In 2003 Dr. Lewis Oring, CABNR wildlife scientist studied the long billed curlew and its nesting success on private pastures in Ruby Valley. The research was partially funded by a NAF grant. Ruby Valley is among key nesting sites for the curlew in North America. Dr. Oring discovered that pasture management of grazing livestock on the Ruby Valley pastures tended to duplicate buffalo grazing patterns on the tall grass prairies of the Great Plains where curlew historically nested. In this case, the private property is contributing significantly to continued survival of the curlew. Similar research, though not NAF funded, has been reported by NAF on its web site and in other forms of educational material, especially as concerns both sage grouse and mule deer. Each has benefitted from private ranch property and association with livestock. Research on control of invasive weeds such as tall white top by CABNR has been supported by NAF grants 2002 to 2004. One such study related to using sheep grazing to control the weed.

Dr. Paul T. Tueller, UNR emeritus range scientist, partially funded by NAF has been studying range monitoring protocols in Nevada now for over three years. His efforts have led to updating the Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook first published in 1984. The handbook involves determining answers to various essential questions about ranges. They cannot be successfully managed wirhout such answers. What is the production in terms of plant growth, grasses, shrubs, and forbs this year on Nevada range X? Is this production greater or smaller than last year? How does it compare to years previously? What has been the impact on X from grazing or browsing by livestock, wildlife and wild horses and how does this compare to other years? How have natural forces such as wildfire, drought, moisture, and subsequent vegetational and soil changes altered the area? The answers can only be determined by various rangeland measurements as determined by scientifically developed protocols that can stand up to scrutiny. Tueller doesn't believe we have enough solid monitoring data currently to make the necessary decisions but hopes this will change and that both range managers and users will use a standard and comparable approach to monitoring.

In other research, NAF has provided funding to support CABNR efforts to create high value meat products from "cull" livestock, or so called "ground meat" quality, thus increasing their worth; granted funds for CABNR to study prices of Nevada produced milk compared with that of California, and what contributes to such pricing as information for the Nevada Dairy Industry; contributed a signicant amount for the installing of a "state of the art" for its size weather station in Fish Lake Valley thus allowing ranchers and particularly alfalfa growers to study and determine weather patterns in the Valley leading to better production; given financial support to CABNR Agri-Business Students to create food marketing plans; and granted funding for undergrad internships at the College in the area of agricultural research. Thousands of NAF dollars have been involved in these research grants ranging from $4,000 to $10,000 and more.

Both 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) youth organizations have been major recipients of NAF grants since the beginning. We have already mentioned some of these. A highly important one was the voting by NAF in 1998 to provide $100,000 as seed money to help the Nevada FFA Foundation get underway. This was furnished in increments or payments that were completed in 2005. In 1997, NAF provided $7,500 to FFA in financial support for the State FFA Convention and to send Nevada FFA officers to Regional meetings. Back in the mid-1980's also NAF helped fund the Nevada State FFA Officers in their annual tour of State FFA Chapters. Begining in 1984 and continuing for some years NAF offered a stipend to cover transportation costs of UNR Ag. College students majoring in Vocational Agricultural Education doing their practice teaching. This was helpful since the student might have to travel as far as Wells to do his or her practice requirement.

The NAF March Landa 4-H Awards commenced in 1988 and continued well into the 1990's. These were based on 4-H Record Book judgements with earlier ones mostly in the sheep project since Landa had been a sheep rancher. The Award enabled the recipient to attend the National 4-H Congress each year in Chicago. Over the years from time to time NAF has helped sponsor both 4-H members and leaders to such events as the National Congress. More recently, year 2000 and later, NAF has made major grants to the Nevada Junior Livestock Show Board to fund Livestock judging clinics, show ethics and for other needs. The show each year involves both 4-H and FFA.

The "Nevada Heritage Series" was inaugurated by NAF in 1988. This was the publishing of books about the history of agriculture and associated topics in Nevada. First in the series were two books by Louie Gardella, longtime Nevada County Agent, titled "La Zappa I" and "La Zappa II." The first dealt with early Italian farmers and ranchers in the Truckee Meadows area and the other with Italian agriculturists in Lyon County. Next was Dr. Bohmont's book, "Golden Years of Agriculture in Nevada," which provided a history of the UNR College of Agriculture with focus on the years 1960 t0 1980. "Hoofprints On Nevada Land" by Gardella traced the history of 20 of the State's more important ranches. "Men Of The West" a book of cowboy poetry by Dick Guskey is a historical exhibit of such poetry. This writer Dave Mathis wrote "Following The Nevada Wildlife Trail, A History of Wildlife and Wildlife Management in Nevada" that NAF published in 1997. It provided a history of public lands in Nevada relative to wildlife and to the livestock industry. In conjunction with these publications, NAF produced three "White Papers" on aspects of Nevada Agriculture. The first was authored by Bohmont and discussed the status at the time of agricultural education in Nevada. Mathis wrote two, the first on the diminishing voice of agriculture not only in the Nevada but the west generally and the second on wildfire in the State.

A website was created by NAF in 2001. The address is www.nvagfoundation.org. The site makes a variety of information about NAF available including history; NAF officers,Board Of Directors and Trustee members; various application forms; and a number of news stories. Many of these are about interesting Nevada farmers and ranchers and introduce web visitors to the real people out there who are working to produce our food and fiber. There are many other such stories ready to be told and will acquaint even more with the agriculturists.

NAF leaders dating back to 1988 (did not have complete data prior to that time) included as Presidents, Rich Capurro, Reno; Tony Lesperance, Paradise Valley; Ron Squires, Gardnerville; Dick McDougal, Lovelock; Tom Barnes, Elko; and Louie Test, Reno with Executive Directors/Secretaries, Harry Gallaway, Reno; Michele Lewis, Gardnerville; Dwayne Gilbert, Reno; Bud Lies, Reno; Dick Garrett, Reno; and Gail Munk, Lovelock. Financial Advisor to NAF now for a number of years has been Mark Elston of Reno. - 30 -

Dr. Paul Tueller with NAF funding has been researching range monitoring protocols to determine seasonal or over time plant growth on rangelands and the impact of livestock and wildlife on such lands. He feels more scientific monitoring or measuring is needed.

NAF Executive Director/Secretary, Gail Munk, (left) asks Fish Lake Valley Rancher Grant Wallace how a newly erected "State Of The Art" weather station for its size is helping ranchers in the valley, especially those growing alfalfa. NAF helped fund the station that is located on the rancher's property but serves the whole valley and beyond.

Nevada elk in White Pine County graze on crested wheat re-seedings that years back were established to replenish plant growth in some areas, create more grass for grazing animals, and for fire resistant qualities (that is crested wheat grass is less likely to burn than some other grass species.) Critics at the time thought it catering to livestockmen but the fenced pastures now help wildlife also. Some wildlife also benefits from private ranch lands and association with livestock.

Bob Butler head of CABNR's Meats Lab and graduate student Susan Casey discuss NAF funded aspects of research aimed at making lower valued meat animals more valuable by creating enhanced meat products using such animals. The inventive meats have been sold under the name of "Wolf Pack" meats.

This is a 2005 photo taken at NAF's Annual spring Banquet of some NAF Educational Assistance Award Recipients attending the annual affair. Allen List of Lovelock (left) is Chairman of the Awards Selection Committee. NAF President Louie Test of Reno is on the right. Students (left to right) included: Cassandra Dotts, Douglas; Kyle Martinez, Douglas; Amanda Vesco, Humboldt; and Katrina Julian, Churchill.